Adjustable picture frame



J1me 1939- M. MANDELL ET AL 2,164,299

ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Sept. 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A ORNEY June 1939- M. MANDELL ET AL 2,164,299

ADJUSTABLE PI CTURE FRAME Filed Sept. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS W A ORNEY June 27, 1939. M. MANDELL ET AL 99 ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Sept, 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MAJ W152i AMA 0H1 A ORNEY June 27, 1939. M. MANDELL ET AL 2,164,299

- ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Sept. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MAXWELZ MANDHL BFNJAM/N Jfl-IWARTZ INVENTORS TORNEY Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Maxwell Mandell and Benjamin Schwartz, New York, N. Y.

Application September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,063

4 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable frames or supports for pictures, placards, mirrors and the like, and has for its object the provision of a device of the character described which is simple in construction and which isreadily adjustable to accommodate pictures, etc., of varying sizes and conformations.

In the preferred form of invention, the frame is so constituted and constructed that the same may be folded or collapsed or nested into relatively small compass, with the advantages accruing therefrom, and yet without separating or dismantling any of the elements of said frame. Conversely, while the adjustable frame or support is arranged to be packaged, preferably, in the "collapsed or nested form, nevertheless, it is so constituted and constructed that it may readily and easily be manipulated into position to receive the picture, placard, mirror or the like which it is desired to frame or support.

Preferably, the invention comprises a plurality of arms, when in operative use, radiating or can tending from, and held together at or adjacent their inner extremities by a common locking element. Said arms are adapted to .be extensible and rotatable relative to the locking element so as to accommodate, support or receive a picture, placard, mirror or the like of varying sizes and conformations.

Preferably, the said arms are provided with a medial, longitudinal slot in the body thereof, a screw or such lock element being passed through the slots of said arms, so that the latter may be translationally adjusted as well as rotated, with the screw or equivalent element acting as guide and a pivot.

The outer extremities of said arms are provided with means for engaging a portion or section of the object to be framed or supported, said means being preferably swivelably attached to the outer extremities of said arms.

From the nature of the construction of the invention, it will be seen that the units or arms may, when not in operative use, be stacked or superimposed one upon the other to compact the same.

Keeping these factors in mind, it will be seen where the accompanying drawings bear out the features of invention above described, generally, as well as in detail, including modified forms falling within the scope of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our frame in the socalled nested condition, while Fig. 2 shows the same fanned out or unfolded, ready to receive a picture, placard or the like.

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a fiat strip of metal, longitudinally slotted composing one of the elements of our frame.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the arms of the A frame arm associated with arm shown in Fig. 5,

and Fig. 6A is a sectional view taken along line 6A6A on Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showinga frame embodying members of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 6, while Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-4! of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of telescoping slotted tubular or channeled metal frame members showing a modified form of the complementary or telescoping members of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 10 is a detail of a corner or end-channeled member of a form suitable to be used in conjunction with circular mirrors or the like, the former having a part or extension for hiding the hiatus between the circular mirror and the like, and the said corner or end member.

Figs. 11 and 12 are partial plan views showing modified forms of arms and attaching means.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of our invention as applied to a picture.

Referring now to the said drawings it will be seen that the invention comprises the provision of a plurality of medially slotted members or arms having a common pivot l with respect to which said members or arms are rotationally as well as translationally or extensibly adjustable.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the frame is shown as com-prising four arms or members 2, each member consisting of a longitudinally slotted fiat I metal stamping 3, to the extremities of which are relatively loosely riveted at 4, for swivelable movement, channeled corner members 5, arranged to engage, receive, or accommodate an edge or section of a picture with its mat, glass and backing, or a placard, mirror or the like (see generally 6, Fig. 3).

It will be observed that in the case of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, each arm or member 2 is individually and separately movable or adjustable both longitudinally or extensibly and rotationally so that the said membersor arms 2, may be fanned out to a greater degree of symmetry or asymmetry than in the case of the telescoping members or arms of Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, because the telescoping complementary members are not rotationally movable with respect to each other, though the two pairs of telescoping, complementary arms or members, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, are rotationally movable or adjustable with respect to each other.

The said pivot or connecting means I may be an ordinary screw passing through the slot of each arm or member of the frame, and secured to said pivot or screw, may be a supporting leg or easel 1, consisting, preferably, of a longitudinally slotted strip of metal, the said screw passing through the longitudinal slot of said leg. A wing nut 8 may be employed on the screw l to lock and telescoping, and the complementary arms, as

above stated, are longitudinally movable with respect to each other and not rotationally Fig. 5

shows one of the complementary arms l6 slotted longitudinally as in the first named instance, but

being provided with longitudinal side ledges or tongues I I, as more clearly illustrated by the sectional view in Fig. 5A.

Fig. 6 shows the complementary arm l2 to arm IU of Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 the arm is longitudinally slotted and provided with a groove or channel l3 in the side portions thereof to accommodate the ledges or tongues II, II of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 9 is a still further modification of the arm construction of the frame. Here, as in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the arms are telescoping but both arms in this instance consist of channeled o-r tubular members l4 and I5 respectively, the one telescoping with the other. construction of Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the arms are paired, complementary and telescoping and the individuals of a pair have only translational or longitudinal movement with respect to its complement.

Where circular mirrors l6 (Fig. 10) or other curved objects are to be supported in the frame, there may be provided channeled corners 5, 5, with an extended portion or piece I! to cover the hiatus between the periphery of the mirror or other circular object and the said corner members 5.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 11 the arms l2 are slidably pivoted to a disc 25, the disc being provided with slots 2| and the inner extremities of the arms l2 are provided with a hole through which extends a clamp screw 22, the screw extending also through the slot 2|. This arrangement allows for free sliding within limits of the arms along the respective disc slots for longitudinal adjustment of the corner brackets or pieces 5' and also permits of any necessary pivotal adjustment of the arms with respect to the disc to accommodate the corner pieces 5 to the configuration of the picture, mirror, placard or the like which is to be framed.

Fig. 12 is illustrative of still another embodiment of the invention in which the arms 5 are each made up of two telescopic members 23 and '24 with a clamp screw 25 for locking the two members together in adjustable position. In this embodiment one of the members 24 of each arm is pivotally connected to a disc 26. The free extremity of the other member 23 of each arm has pivoted to it the cornerpiece 5'.

Although we have described our improvements 'with considerable detail and. with respect to certain particular forms of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications in the form, arrange- Here, as in the case of the.

ments, proportions, and sizes thereof, may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An adjustable frame comprising a plurality of pairs of extensible arms, one arm of each pair having a closed-ended longitudinal slot extending substantially its entire length, and having its outer longitudinal side edges provided with a reduced tongue, the other arm of each pair being bifurcated substantially throughout its length, the interior longitudinal edges of the resulting prongs having a grooved channel to slidably accommodate the reduced tongues if the first arm, each of said arms having at its free extremity, pivoted means for holding a section of an object to be framed, and a common pivotal member passing through all of said slots and bifurcations, around which member said pairs of arms may be moved rotationally.

2. An adjustable frame comprising a plurality of pairs of extensible arms, one arm of each pair having a closed-ended longitudinal slot extending substantially its entire length, and having its outer longitudinal side edges provided with a reduced tongue, the other arm of each pair being bifurcated substantially throughout its length, the interior longitudinal edges prongs having a grooved channel to slidably accommodate the reduced tongues if the first arm, each of said arms having at its free extremity pivoted means for holding a section of an object to be framed, and a common pivotal member passing through all of said slots and bifurcations,

around which member said pairs of arms may be moved rotationally, and means for locking said arms in slidably and rotationally adjusted position.

.3. An adjustable frame comprising a plurality of pairs of extensible arms, one arm of each pair having a closed-ended longitudinal slot extending substantially its entire length, the other arm of each pair being bifurcated substantially throughout its length, the interior longitudinal edges of the resulting prongs having a grooved channel to slidably accommodate the edges of the first arm, each of said arms having at its free extremity pivoted means for holding a section of an object to be framed, and a common pivotal member passing through all of said slots and bifurcations, around which member said pairs of arms may be moved rotationally.

4. An adjustable frame comprising a plurality of pairs of extensible arms, one arm of each pair having a closed-ended longitudinal slot extending substantially its entire length, the other arm of each pair being bifurcated substantially throughout its length, the interior longitudinal edges of the resulting prongs having a grooved channel to slidably accommodate the edges of the first arm, each of said arms having at its free extremity pivoted means for holding a section of an object to be framed, and a common pivotal member passing through ,all of said slots and bifurcations, around which member said pairs of arms may be moved rotationally, and means for locking said arms in slidably and rotationally adjusted position.

MAXWELL MANDELL.

BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ.

of the resulting, 

